Written Answers to Questions

Monday 22 October 2012

Defence

Second World War Arctic Convoys

17. David T. C. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to recognise those who served in the Arctic convoys during the second world war; and if he will make a statement. [123728]

Dr Murrison:
The Prime Minister appointed Sir John Holmes earlier this year to undertake an independent review of the rules applying to military medals, and reported the results of Sir John's interim review to the House on 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 132WS. Further work is now under way, including a re-examination of some of the issues which have been the subject of past campaigns, such as those for an Arctic Convoy medal. The outcome of Sir John's further work is expected by the end of the year.

Defence Equipment and Support

18. Jack Lopresti:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made on transforming Defence Equipment and Support. [123729]

Mr Dunne:
The Ministry of Defence is determined to transform the efficiency of procurement and support to provide the right equipment to our armed forces at the right time and at a cost affordable to the taxpayer.

As the Secretary of State announced in July, work is being advanced on developing the Government Owned Contractor Operated option, an innovative model to introduce private sector management expertise to supplement the military and specialist skills necessary for armed forces procurement.

We continue to consider the value for money case which I expect to conclude shortly. Subject to the outcome, the GO-CO option will be taken forward for full investment

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appraisal in 2013 benchmarked against the alternative of an improved Defence Equipment and Support.

Afghanistan

19. Dan Jarvis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the security transition in Afghanistan. [123730]

Mr Philip Hammond:
Transition of security to Afghan control, as agreed at the Lisbon Conference in 2010, is on track to be achieved by the end of 2014. In May, the Afghan Government announced the third tranche of districts and provinces that will enter the process. This sees the Afghans take the lead for security in areas home to 75% of the population. And since April this year we have been able to reduce the number of UK bases in Helmand from 80 to 39 as the Afghans assume day-to-day responsibility.

By mid-2013, all parts of Afghanistan will have begun transition, and Afghan forces will be in the lead for security nationwide. This will mark an important milestone in the Lisbon road map. The progress of security transition is allowing ISAF gradually, and responsibly, to draw down its forces to complete its combat mission by 31 December 2014.

Mr Holloway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the UK armed forces who served in Afghanistan during (a) Operation Herrick 8, (b) Operation Herrick 9 and (c) Operation Herrick 10 have died since their return from Afghanistan; what the parent regiment of each such person was; and whether each death (i) took place (A) while the person was still serving in the armed forces or (B) after discharge and (ii) has been (1) ruled a suicide or (2) judged to be a potential suicide. [121937]

Mr Francois:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold data relating to cause of death for service personnel once they have left service, thus we are unable to provide a response to the number of suicides after discharge. The MOD is also not in receipt of routine notification of deaths to reservist personnel unless they are mobilised.

The post-tour suicides or potential suicides of armed forces personnel who had been deployed on Operation Herrick 8, 9 and 10 and who were still serving at the time of their death, are set out in the following table (to protect the identity of individuals the information provided is by service in place of regiment):

Cases where mechanism of death suggests suicide but no inquest has yet taken place

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

3

0

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These post-deployment deaths have occurred any time between three months and three years from the date of return.

Mr Holloway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the UK armed forces served in Helmand in Afghanistan during (a) Operation Herrick 8, (b) Operation Herrick 9 and (c) Operation Herrick 10; and how many such people on each such operation have been (i) treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and (ii) discharged for psychological reasons since returning from Afghanistan. [121938]

Mr Francois:
The number of armed forces personnel that served on Op Herrick 8, 9 and 10 were:

Number

Op Herrick 8

6,006

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Op Herrick 9

6,419

Op Herrick 10

7,214

Of these, the numbers that have been subsequently seen for an episode of care for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are as follows:

Number

Op Herrick 8

111

Op Herrick 9

98

Op Herrick 10

190

The number of individuals who have been identified as previously deployed on Operation Herrick 8, 9 or 10, and who were subsequently medically discharged with a principal or contributory cause of mental and behavioural disorders, is as follows:

Defence Vetting Agency

20. Hugh Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government have any plans to merge the Defence Vetting Agency with the vetting functions of other Government Departments. [123731]

Mr Francois:
The MOD's vetting organisation already provides services to a wide range of other Government Departments and police forces. It is the largest single provider of vetting services and has developed an electronic vetting capability to further improve efficiency and effectiveness. We continue to discuss with the Cabinet Office and other organisations whether additional benefits could be driven from consolidating all of the provision of vetting into a single organisation, but no decision has been taken at this time. It should be noted that a change in structure in October 2011 resulted in the Defence Vetting Agency becoming part of Defence Business Services and being renamed National Security Vetting. The role remains the same and a key priority is to widen further DBS-NSV's customer base across Government Departments and other public bodies.

Service Personnel Children

22. Andrew Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to extend support in education for the children of current and former service personnel. [123733]

Mr Francois:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti) and my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr Jones).

World Land Speed Record (Bloodhound SSC Team)

23. Peter Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department is providing to the Bloodhound SSC world land speed record team; and if he will make a statement. [123734]

Mr Dunne:
The Ministry of Defence is supporting the Bloodhound project by providing three retired Typhoon jet engines from the test programme that will power the vehicle, a five-man team of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in support and an RAF pilot who is taking time off to drive it. I have recently signed a concordat with the project which provides a framework for collaboration between the MOD and the project.

Aircraft Carriers

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft sorties per day the Queen Elizabeth class carrier is designed to operate. [123239]

Mr Philip Hammond:
I am withholding the information on how many sorties can be flown in a day as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Queen Elizabeth class carrier has a well deck; what his policy is on the storage and use of Royal Marine maritime transport vessels; and if he will make a statement. [123260]

Mr Dunne[holding answer 18 October 2012]: The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers do not have a well deck, but they will have the capability to carry troops and helicopters to take part in amphibious operations.

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The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review concluded that, as part of Future Force 2020, the Royal Marines will be able to land and sustain a commando group of up to 1,800 personnel from the sea from a helicopter platform and protective vehicles, logistics and command and control support from specialist ships. To achieve this aim, the Royal Navy retains one Landing Platform Dock, one Landing Platform Helicopter, and two Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) at high readiness, with a further Landing Platform Dock and a Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) held at extended readiness.

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the aviation mix is of hardware for the Queen Elizabeth class carrier in the littoral role. [123494]

Mr Dunne[holding answer 18 October 2012]: The Queen Elizabeth (QE) class aircraft carrier will have the capacity to deploy up to 36 Lightning II aircraft and four helicopters. Alternatively, it can also carry a mix of helicopters, the precise mix of aircraft being dependent on the mission, enabling the QE class to support a broad range of operations including in the littoral.

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the capacity to maintain operationally qualified pilots with a single Queen Elizabeth class carrier. [123963]

Mr Dunne[holding answer 19 October 2012]: The operational qualification of pilots will be synchronised with the ship's generation cycle to maintain the required level of capability and readiness.

Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

Mr Carswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to introduce safeguards to prevent the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme from becoming a vehicle for lobbying. [124005]

Dr Murrison:
I am not aware that the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme has been used for lobbying. A review of the scheme, with the agreement of the Speaker, has been undertaken, the purpose of which was to ensure the scheme is structured in a transparent and accountable way with sufficient safeguards in place to mitigate any accusations of lobbying or impropriety. Options identified by the review will be considered by stakeholders and by the House of Commons Commission.

Mr Carswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the review of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme will be completed. [124006]

Dr Murrison:
The independent review of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS) is now complete and recommendations will be considered shortly by the key stakeholders of the scheme. The proposed way ahead for the AFPS will be discussed by the House of Commons Commission on 29 October 2012.

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Astute Class Submarines

Martin Horwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the regulator's advice to his Department on the redevelopment of the Rolls-Royce Raynesway plant for the production of future reactor cores. [122796]

Mr Dunne[holding answer 17 October 2012]: The Raynesway site is a nuclear licensed site under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. Any advice on the redevelopment of the site would be provided by the regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), to the licensee, Rolls-Royce Marine Power Engineering.

The ONR has not yet provided advice to Rolls-Royce on the planned redevelopment of the site. It is ONR's policy to publish its formal advice on its website at:

www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/

BAE Systems

John Woodcock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on any future proposals for foreign investment in BAE Systems. [123975]

Mr Dunne:
The Government's position remains unchanged. While decisions regarding the future of the company are a matter for BAE Systems, the Government's role is to ensure that the UK's national security interests are properly protected.

Consultants

Mr Mike Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department plans to take to ensure it abides by its pledge to decrease expenditure on consultants. [122277]

Mr Philip Hammond:
The Ministry of Defence will continue to implement the Cabinet Office controls on consultancy expenditure that were published on 24 May 2010, and updated in July 2012, which can be found at the following link:

Departmental spending on consultancy was £79 million in 2009-10; in 2010-11 it was £26 million, a reduction of approximately two-thirds.

Guided Weapons

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy was involved in the procurement of the Fire Shadow missile; and what the nature was of any such involvement. [123262]

Mr Dunne[holding answer 18 October 2012]: Fire Shadow was developed in response to a requirement from the Land environment. However, the Royal Navy was briefed during the procurement phase.

Job Satisfaction

Mr Mike Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether low morale is an issue at the Ministry of Defence; and how he plans to alleviate any such problem. [122279]

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Mr Francois:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses a number of measures to monitor and understand changes in morale, and while headcount reductions and pay restraint have inevitably had an impact, I continue to be impressed by the dedication of MOD personnel, both military and civilian. The outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, coupled with the need to reduce the national deficit, has necessitated a series of tough decisions. However, the outcome of the current transformation programme will be a leaner, more efficient Department that continues to offer challenging, interesting and fairly remunerated careers.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air-launched medium or tactical nuclear weapons the joint attack fighter will be cleared to deploy. [123240]

Mr Dunne:
There are no plans to equip the UK Lightning II aircraft with a nuclear capability.

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which service will be responsible for the F-35B variant joint strike fighter on board the new Queen Elizabeth class carrier. [123587]

Mr Dunne:
As announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the UK's carrier strike capability will be delivered jointly by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

Libya: Military Intervention

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Storm Shadow, (b) Tomahawk and (c) Brimstone missiles were expended during Operation Ellamy. [123583]

Mr Robathan:
During Operation Ellamy, UK forces employed a combined total of around 80 Storm Shadow and Tomahawk land attack missiles; and around 230 dual mode seeker Brimstone missiles.

I am withholding the detailed breakdown of Storm Shadow and Tomahawk land attack missile numbers employed as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many mid-air refuelling operations were required on average on a single sortie from RAF Marham to Libyan airspace and back during Operation Ellamy. [123584]

Mr Robathan:
During Operation Ellamy, on average three mid-air refuelling operations were required for each Tornado strike mission transiting to Libya from RAF Marham and two refuelling operations for the return transit to RAF Marham.

Military Aircraft

Mr Mike Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce maritime patrol aircraft in the UK. [122281]

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Mr Dunne:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) on 13 September 2012, Official Report, column 312W.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of all the types of helicopter platforms in present use across all three services; and if he will make a statement. [123964]

Mr Philip Hammond[holding answer 19 October 2012]: The following types of helicopter platforms were in use with the three services as at 30 September 2012:

Owned and operated by MOD

Aircraft type

Service

Apache

Army

Chinook

RAF

Gazelle

Army

Lynx

Army and Navy

Wildcat

Army

Merlin

RAF and Navy

Puma

RAF

Sea King

RAF and Navy

EurocopterAS365N3

Army

Leased but flown by MOD

Aircraft type

Service

Bell 212

Army

Bell 412

RAF

Agusta 109

RAF

EurocopterAS350BB

Tri-service

National Security

Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made on the implementation of the recommendations in his Department's White Paper on National Security Through Technology. [124127]

Mr Dunne:
Good progress is being made in implementing the recommendations of the National Security Through Technology White Paper. This includes: sustaining the level of investment in defence science and technology at 1.2% of the Defence budget; encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to fulfil their potential in responding to defence requirements; embedding the new national security principles of operational advantage and freedom of action within departmental processes; and increasing support for Defence exports.

Nimrod Aircraft

Mr Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capabilities are currently being utilised to fulfil the role that would otherwise have been undertaken by Nimrod MRA4 aircraft; and what capabilities will fulfil this role in the long term. [124116]

Mr Dunne:
A layered range of complementary assets is utilised to fulfil the maritime patrol capability which includes Type 23 Frigates, Merlin helicopters, attack submarines, and Hercules C130 and E-3D Sentry aircraft. This is the same provision that was in place under the previous Government. We do not have a defined

22 Oct 2012 : Column 617W

requirement for a future capability, as I have stated in the answer that I gave on 13 September 2012,

Official Report

, column 312W, to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).

Operation Atalanta

Mr Mike Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the mandate for Operation Atalanta. [122275]

Mr Robathan:
Operation Atalanta's mandate will expire in December 2014. A review of the operation will take place six months in advance and a decision will then be taken on the mission's continuation.

Procurement

Michael Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress his Department has made in improving the effectiveness of procurement of items valued under £1,000; and if he will make a statement. [123718]

Mr Dunne:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is making more effective use of the central contracting approach being led by the Cabinet Office, through the Government Procurement Service (GPS). This has accounted for some £220 million of MOD expenditure in the first quarter of the current financial year. The MOD uses GPS contracts and electronic catalogue systems to purchase most low-value items under £1,000, including stationery, information technology consumables, printing and furniture. This procurement approach maximises savings to the MOD and reduces the need to use other purchasing routes.

Radio Frequencies

Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on his Department's consultation on the release of the 870-872 and 915-917 MHz bandwidths; and if he will make a statement on timelines. [117236]

Peter Luff[holding answer 13 July 2012]: The Ministry of Defence is currently liaising with a number of other Government Departments and Ofcom to conduct the technical and regulatory analysis required to enable the sharing of the spectrum in 870-872 and 915-917MHz. I will write to the hon. Member once the position is clearer.

Substantive answer from Philip Dunne to Chi Onwurah:

My predecessor undertook to write to you in his answer of 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 764W, regarding your parliamentary question about radio frequencies. The Ministry of Defence has decided to relinquish its management responsibility for the spectrum in the 870-872 and 915-917 MHz bands as there is no requirement to use it for military purposes now or in the future. The Government now need to consider whether they still require the spectrum for non-military use before the spectrum could be returned to Ofcom for assignment to other users. This process is now under way.

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Research

Chris Kelly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what external policy research his Department has commissioned in each of the last six years; which organisation was commissioned to provide each such piece of research; and what the cost of each such piece of research was. [122363]

Mr Philip Hammond:
The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Territorial Waters

Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vessels were (a) intercepted and (b) boarded by the Royal Navy in UK territorial waters in each year since 2007. [123606]

Mr Robathan:
Details of the number of fishery protection vessel interceptions and boardings in each year since 2007 are listed in the following table. This excludes Scottish waters as these are managed by the Marine Scottish Alliance.

Interceptions

Boardings

2007

2,191

1,378

2008

1,709

983

2009

2,050

1,288

2010

1,974

1,303

2011

2,069

1,415

2012(1)

1,465

977

Total

11,458

7,344

(1 )To date.

Not all interceptions require boarding; the Royal Navy makes a physical approach usually within one mile and contacts initially by a radio challenge. Subsequently, a decision to board may be made. All these figures are recorded by the Marine Management Organisation.

There have been a total of 23 interceptions other than fishery protection vessels since 2007 made by the Royal Navy, one of which was a counter-narcotics boarding and seizure.

During Op OLYMPICS, one interception by a Royal Marine offshore raiding craft was made in Dorset. No maritime interceptions were made by Royal Naval vessels on the River Thames.

Trident

Mr Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which other Ministers will be involved in the Trident Alternatives Review. [123387]

Mr Philip Hammond:
The Review is being led by the Cabinet Office and will report to the Prime Minister and to the Deputy Prime Minister. It is being conducted under the oversight of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander).

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Treasury

Banks: Loans

Mr Bain:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on the monthly publication of levels of net bank lending to (a) small and medium-sized businesses and (b) individuals by each participating bank in the Funding for Lending Programme. [122978]

Greg Clark:
The Bank of England will publish, for each bank participating in the Funding for Lending Scheme, the net flows of lending to households and non-financial businesses on a quarterly basis from 3 December 2012.

Bumi PLC

Lisa Nandy:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on Bumi PLC. [123846]

Greg Clark[holding answer 19 October 2012]: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with, and receive representations from, a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Child Benefit: EU Nationals

Priti Patel:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-UK EEA nationals have dependants eligible to receive child benefit where the dependant is (a) in the UK and (b) outside the UK; and how much has been paid to them in child benefit payments in each of the last five years. [123449]

Mr Gauke:
Information in respect of (a) and in respect of the amounts paid in child benefit is not available. However, information in respect of (b) is available from a database maintained by HM Revenue and Customs showing the number of ongoing UK family benefit awards made under EC Regulation 883/2004. This Regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states of the European economic area (EEA) and Switzerland, including the UK, when they exercise their rights of free movement under EU law.

Around 7.5 million families are currently claiming child benefit for around 13 million children. Out of that total, at 30 September 2012, there were 23,855 ongoing child benefit awards under EC Regulation 883/2004 in respect of 40,251 children living in another member state. The breakdown by member state is as follows:

Child benefit

Country

Number of ongoing awards as at 30 September 2012

Number of children in ongoing awards as at 30 September 2012

Austria

27

41

Belgium

146

290

Bulgaria

175

227

22 Oct 2012 : Column 620W

Cyprus

54

78

Czech Republic

179

293

Denmark

20

34

Estonia

37

57

Finland

15

33

France

1,155

2,146

Germany

368

647

Greece

53

79

Hungary

132

203

Iceland

3

5

Italy

202

350

Latvia

822

1,109

Lithuania

1,212

1,710

Luxembourg

10

21

Malta

15

21

Norway

37

72

Poland

15,251

25,623

Portugal

236

355

Republic of Ireland

1,242

2,529

Romania

197

334

Slovakia

1,105

1,953

Slovenia

7

12

Spain

776

1,291

Sweden

64

112

Switzerland

121

242

The Netherlands

194

384

Total

23,855

40,251

Information about the value of child benefit awarded by the UK under EC Regulation 883/2004 is available only at disproportionate costs. This is because under the priority rules in that regulation, not all such awards are made at full UK rates.

Commodity Markets

Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the notional value of derivatives held by the banks regulated by the Financial Services Authority is; and what information is held about the maturity and exposure of such derivatives. [122850]

Greg Clark:
This information is not currently available. The shortfall in information available to regulators on derivatives during the financial crisis led the G20 in 2009 to propose that all over the counter derivative trade information should be reported to Trade Repositories. This requirement, which is expected to enter into force in the EU by the start of 2013, will allow information on all derivatives trades to be made available to the relevant authorities.

Conservative Party: Conferences

John Mann:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the names of each individual and organisation he met in an official capacity at the 2012 Conservative party conference. [123406]

Sajid Javid:
The Chancellor did not hold any meetings in an official capacity at the 2012 Conservative party conference.

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Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland

Ms Ritchie:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Ministerial Working Group considering the devolution of corporation tax to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [124112]

Mr Gauke:
The Ministerial Working Group has made real progress on understanding the practicalities and potential impacts of the devolution of corporation tax to Northern Ireland. The group will report its findings to the Prime Minister soon.

Debts: Iceland

Michael Fabricant:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects debt owed by Iceland to be repaid; and if he will make a statement. [122878]

Greg Clark:
Negotiations with Iceland over the terms of a loan agreement in respect of the compensation paid to UK depositors of Icesave, the UK branch of Landsbanki h.f., are ongoing. Progress is currently suspended pending the outcome of proceedings by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority (ESA) against Iceland in the EFTA Court in respect of Iceland's alleged failure to meet its legal obligations to UK and Dutch depositors under the EU Deposit Guarantee Directive.

The EFTA court held an oral hearing on 18 September 2012 where the UK, the Netherlands and the European Commission made oral submissions in support of the ESA's case. The court is expected to reach a decision in the next few months.

Details of the Icesave loans as at 31 March 2012, including repayments and interest received, can be found in Sections 33 of the Treasury Annual Reports and Accounts 2011-12. The report can be accessed via the following web link:

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/hmt_annual_report_2012.pdf

Financial Services

Guto Bebb:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on the mis-selling of interest rate swaps to small and medium-sized businesses. [122641]

Greg Clark:
Treasury Ministers and officials meet with, and receive representations from, a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Financial Services: Advisory Services

Tim Farron:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of independent financial advisers who went out of business as a result of changes in the rules regulating the sale of private pensions in 1997. [123148]

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Greg Clark[holding answer 17 October 2012]: No estimate has been made by this Department of the number of independent financial advisers who went out of business as a result of any changes to the regulation of private pensions around that period.

Infrastructure

Caroline Dinenage:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a report on the progress of the priority infrastructure projects outlined in the National Infrastructure Plan, setting out how many projects have (a) begun construction work or (b) agreed contracts with contractors. [124063]

Danny Alexander:
The Government committed in the National Infrastructure Plan 2011 to provide an annual update on the progress of the priority programmes and projects, and we will do this by the end of this year. We previously provided an update on the progress of the priority projects at the 2012 Budget.

The Government will also provide an update on the overall infrastructure investment pipeline and on other progress since the publication of the National Infrastructure Plan 2011 including updating the infrastructure performance and cost indicators.

Where construction work has begun on significant projects, we would expect to reflect this in the update where it is relevant. We would also expect to note significant contracts that have been agreed as part of the update where appropriate. However as the majority of UK infrastructure is privately funded, contract information is not always available and commercial sensitivities will need to be considered.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Jonathan Reynolds:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the paperwork required in order to make a successful application to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. [122686]

Mr Vaizey:
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The claim forms used in the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme have changed little under the revised scheme which came into effect on 1 October 2012. The scheme has been designed in consultation with a range of faith and heritage organisations who expressed a clear preference for making the scheme as clear and easy as possible to use. We are starting to receive feedback on the form and will be working with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure it meets needs. There will be regular reviews of the scheme to ensure that it is operating well.

Non-domestic Rates

David Morris:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to extend small business rate relief beyond March 2013. [124122]

Mr Gauke:
The permanent small business rate relief (SBRR) scheme is ongoing. This offers up to 50% rate relief to more than 500,000 small businesses. It is only the temporary doubling of this relief (the SBRR holiday) that is due to end in March 2013.

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The future of the temporary doubling will be considered in the autumn statement process. The Government are committed to support business, but we would need to balance any further business rates support against the tough decisions needed to reduce the deficit.

Pay: North West

John Woodcock:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumer spending and the wider economy of his proposals to introduce regional pay in the public sector in (a) Cumbria and (b) the north-west. [123976]

Danny Alexander:
At the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, the Government asked the independent pay review bodies to consider how public sector pay can be made more responsive to local labour markets. The majority of pay review bodies have now provided their reports to Government—and when the final report has been received, the Government will publish and respond.

VAT: Energy

Zac Goldsmith:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on maintaining the reduced rate of VAT applicable to energy saving materials. [123677]

Mr Gauke:
The Government have now responded to the European Commission's reasoned opinion and intend to defend the current reduced rate of VAT on energy saving materials.

Welfare Tax Credits

Andrew Stephenson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been asked to repay over £1,000 in tax credits by HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last five years. [123247]

Mr Gauke:
Information on the number of tax credits awards where there is an overpayment at the end of each year, to be recovered either directly or by reducing an ongoing award, is published in the HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. Supplement on Payments”. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:

The number of awards with overpayments of £1,000 or more for each of the last five available years has been reproduced in the following table.

Finalised awards overpaid by £1,000 or more at 5 April each year

Thousand

2006-07

287

2007-08

265

2008-09

250

2009-10

347

2010-11

385

22 Oct 2012 : Column 624W

Welfare Tax Credits: EU Nationals

Priti Patel:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-UK EEA nationals have received tax credits in each of the last five years; and at what cost to the public purse. [123450]

Mr Gauke:
The information requested is not available. Nationality is not a condition of entitlement to the child and working tax credits.

However, tax credits are intended to provide support to families with children in the UK and to those in low-paid work here. As a result, eligibility for tax credits depends on the claimants being present and ordinarily resident in the UK. In addition, child tax credit claimants must also have a right to reside in the UK.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Chemicals: Health Hazards

Zac Goldsmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to reduce environmental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals; and if he will make a statement. [123312]

Mr Heath:
Reducing environmental exposure to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is not straightforward. Both naturally occurring and synthetic substances may have such properties. Some EDCs may have beneficial health or societal applications. These include the phytoestrogens present in foods such as soya and ethinyl-oestradiol, an active ingredient of the contraceptive pill.

Research has indicated that ethinyl-oestradiol and natural human hormones via sewage treatment effluent can have negative impacts on fish in UK freshwaters. In response, the Department collaborated with the Environment Agency, Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the water industry in the Endocrine Disruption Demonstration Programme (EDDP) from 2006 to 2010. The EDDP aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of conventional and “advanced” sewage treatment in removing these chemicals. The results demonstrated that the improved processes put in place over the last 15 years or so to meet stringent ammonia standards have reduced the risks from endocrine disrupting substances.

DEFRA continues to address this issue with the Environment Agency and other partners, bringing together emerging science and environmental evidence to determine what further actions are needed.

Some suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals, including several pesticides, are subject to long-standing regulations because of specific toxic effects, which may be due to endocrine disrupting activity. There is also a ban on antifouling paints based on tributyltin (TBT) compounds that were found to cause significant endocrine disrupting effects in some marine organisms.

There are longstanding provisions under EU legislation to subject potentially dangerous chemicals, including endocrine disrupters, to a risk assessment. Where risks are identified, European-wide measures can then be taken to control them. For example, this has been done with the chemical nonylphenol and the flame retardants octa- and penta- BDE (bromodiphenyl ether).

22 Oct 2012 : Column 625W

EDCs can also be subject to the authorisation procedures under the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation, which aims to substitute hazardous chemicals unless there are good socio-economic reasons to justify their continued use. EDCs are also controlled by EU legislation on plant protection and biocidol products. DEFRA is actively collaborating with other Government Departments and agencies in the development of EU regulatory criteria for EDCs. We are also working in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to produce new scientifically-based test methods for the identification of these substances.

COPHES

Zac Goldsmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department is part of the Consortium to Perform Human Bio-Monitoring on a European Scale project; and if he will make a statement. [123345]

Richard Benyon:
DEFRA is not part of the Consortium to Perform Human Bio-Monitoring on a European Scale project (COPHES). The Health Protection Agency is the UK lead for COPHES.

Food: Waste Disposal

Mr Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the development of anaerobic digestion. [123397]

Richard Benyon:
The Government's policy was set out in the Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan, published in June 2011. By more efficient capture and treatment, anaerobic digestion can help us avoid the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the disposal of organic waste. It can also recover energy from waste and produce valuable bio-fertilisers.

The strategy and action plan was developed with a broad range of stakeholders and identifies 56 separate actions to help overcome barriers to the sector's development. We published a progress report on its delivery in July 2012, which can be found on DEFRA's website.

The anaerobic digestion sector has continued to expand rapidly since the strategy was published. There are currently 82 operational anaerobic digestion plants that treat waste and farm feedstocks in the UK. This represents an increase of over a third since the strategy and action plan was produced, and at least double the installed capacity.

Incinerators

Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many energy from waste plants there were in England on 31 December in each year since 1997; and where each such plant was located. [123522]

Richard Benyon:
According to the latest information available, there are 23 energy from waste plants treating municipal solid waste currently operating in England. These are all based on conventional thermal treatment,

22 Oct 2012 : Column 626W

apart from one (on the Isle of Wight) which is gasification-based. A list with further details of their location and year of operational commencement has been placed in the Library of the House.

Phytophthora Ramorum

Glyn Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on the native British larch of Phytophthora ramorum; [123822]

(2) what plans he has to introduce an import ban on young larch trees from countries where Phytophthora ramorum is active in the native woodlands; [123823]

(3) what plans his Department has to bring under control the damage to the British larch caused by Phytophthora ramorum. [123940]

Mr Heath:
Phytophthora ramorum has been found in European larch (Larix decidua) and hybrid larch (Larix x eurolepis). Japanese larch is much more widespread in commercial plantings and hence has been the species in which most infection is found.

Under the five-year, DEFRA-funded, Phytophthora Disease Management Programme led by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), which started in April 2009, large areas of Japanese larch and other larch species have been felled. An external review of the programme has recently commenced, to provide recommendations on future policy for control of Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae.

The objective of felling these trees is to reduce levels of inoculum and thus to try to minimise any further spread of P. ramorum and the damage it causes.

The Forestry Commission and the Food and Environment Research Agency carry out research into this pathogen under the programme, to increase understanding of the epidemiology and how to restrict further spread. This will enable us to pass on advice and guidance to growers on its management and means of preventing or limiting its impact and spread.

Phytophthora ramorum infection in larch trees has only been found in the United Kingdom and in Ireland. There are restrictions on imports of host plants from other EU countries and countries outside the EU; should infected larch be found in third countries it would be proposed for addition to the list of host plants under the Plant Health (Phytophthora ramorum) (England) Order 2004.

Plastic Bags

Zac Goldsmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he made on reducing plastic bag usage via retailers in the latest period for which figures are available. [123610]

However, there has been an overall reduction of 35% in their distribution by supermarket retailers since the baseline year of 2006.

22 Oct 2012 : Column 627W

Shrimps

Glyn Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which the invasive shrimp, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, has become established in UK waterways; [123175]

(2) what research his Department commissioned on the effect on UK waterways of the invasive shrimp, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes; and what information it holds about such research being conducted by other bodies. [123176]

Richard Benyon:
On 26 September, the invasive shrimp Dikerogammarus haemobaphes was confirmed as having been found in samples collected from the River Severn at Bevere (near Worcester) and Tewkesbury. The Environment Agency has initiated a sampling programme to assess the distribution of this species within the midlands region. Populations have now also been confirmed in the Worcester and Birmingham canal and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. DEFRA immediately commissioned a risk assessment for Dikerogammarus haemobaphesto assess the potential impact of this species in Great Britain. The results are expected imminently.

Communities and Local Government

Electrical Safety

Chris Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what means his Department collates figures on the number of (a) domestic deaths and injuries caused by electrical fires and (b) domestic deaths and injuries through electrocution; and if he will make a statement. [124316]

Brandon Lewis:
The Department collates data relating to fires but does not collate data relating to electrocutions.

Fire and Rescue Authority records of incidents attended are transmitted to the Department electronically. Numbers of fatal and non-fatal casualties arising from electrical fires in dwellings can be found in table 11 of the Department's annual analyses of fires, causes and casualties. This is available on the Department's website at:

Housing: Construction

Meg Munn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings with approved planning applications remain to be developed. [124260]

Nick Boles:
The number of dwellings in England with planning permission where development has yet to start is estimated as around 225,800 units as at 30 June 2012. This figure excludes most small schemes with fewer than 10 units.

The source of the data is Glenigan:

http://www.glenigan.com/

22 Oct 2012 : Column 628W

a private company which supplies the Homes and Communities Agency with information on the status of planning applications for internal use. More detailed information is available commercially from Glenigan.

We are undertaking a series of initiatives to help kick-start development on stalled sites, including the £570 million Get Britain Building fund and our reforms to unlock economically unrealistic Section 106 agreements.

These are part of our broader policies to support house building as outlined in the written ministerial statement of 6 September 2012, Official Report, columns 29-34WS, and November 2011’s Housing Strategy.

Internet

Tom Blenkinsop:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department logs the websites visited by civil servants, political advisers and Ministers using departmental computers. [124130]

Brandon Lewis:
As indicated by my recent answer of 15 October 2012, Official Report, column 220W, the Department does not hold such information on such individuals.

Local Government

Roberta Blackman-Woods:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what information his Department holds on the proportion of local government procurement that is sourced from local businesses; [123774]

(2) what information his Department holds on the proportion of local government procurement of food that is supplied by local businesses. [123776]

Brandon Lewis:
The Department does not hold this information centrally.

Procurement in local government is a matter for local discretion but the Government are committed to encouraging a more open and level playing field for small and medium enterprises and has taken steps to improve opportunities for them.

The Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency encourages local authorities to publish copies of contracts, tenders and expenditure over £500 (including costs, supplier and transaction information). By increasing transparency in local authority spending, citizens and others are now much better placed to hold their local authorities to account in this regard, including on the proportion of contracts being awarded to small firms in their area.

Local Government Finance

Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will request the London borough of Barnet to comply with its external auditor's recommendations and produce a stakeholder engagement plan for its transformation programme. [123523]

Brandon Lewis:
How the London borough of Barnet responds to any recommendations from their auditor is a local matter. An auditor has powers to act when he

22 Oct 2012 : Column 629W

has serious concerns about a council's actions, including qualifying the council's accounts, issuing a public interest report which the full council would be required to consider, and even, in the case of unlawful actions, seeking a judicial review.

Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what communication he or officials in his Department have had with the London borough of Barnet regarding the procurement practices of that authority. [123524]

Brandon Lewis:
There have been no recent communications between the Secretary of State and Barnet council regarding its procurement practices.

The Department does not routinely collect information on communications between officials and individual local authorities.

As a matter of public record, in a speech in 2011, the Secretary of State made a reference to procurement practices in that local authority. The speech is online at:

Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether it is his policy that outsourcing of regulatory services by local authorities should be subject to consultation. [123525]

Brandon Lewis:
This Government believe that local authorities are best placed to decide how they fulfil their statutory functions. As locally accountable bodies, they have strong incentives to consult local people, and are under some specific duties to do so. The duty of best value, introduced by section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999, requires authorities to:

“make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness”.

The legislation further requires that they consult local people on how they should fulfil this duty.

Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities which commission regulatory services such as planning, licensing and environmental health from third parties ensure that the public are protected, with particular reference to circumstances where third party suppliers fail to meet their obligations. [123526]

Brandon Lewis:
Councils retain ultimate accountability for ensuring that the services for which they have statutory responsibility are provided. Where they contract services out to third parties, they need to put arrangements in place to ensure that those parties can fulfil their requirements.

Nicholas Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to use Labour Force Survey data rather than the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings when calculating the labour costs adjustment component of the area cost adjustment. [123528]

22 Oct 2012 : Column 630W

Brandon Lewis:
Data used in calculating the area costs adjustment will be set out in the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2013-14.

Nicholas Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the ability of those local authorities with lower grant dependency to continue to raise resources locally in the current economic climate prior to the introduction of four block model dampening arrangements. [123532]

Brandon Lewis:
Proposals for approaches to floor damping were set out in the recent technical consultation on business rates retention, and we are currently considering responses. A copy of the consultation can be found on our website at:

http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/brr/sumcon/index.htm

From April 2013 we will be replacing the current complex formula grant regime with a business rates retention scheme. Our reforms to local government finance are fundamentally about encouraging local authorities to promote local growth. By contrast the local government finance system encouraged a sense of dependency; councils have competed with themselves in a race to the bottom—to present themselves as more deprived than their neighbours in order to get more handouts from Whitehall.

Non-domestic Rates

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of business rates collected by his Department is collected from the retail industry. [123282]

Brandon Lewis:
The information requested is not held centrally.

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the economic effect of the business rates transitional arrangements on areas where rents and rates are falling. [123324]

Brandon Lewis:
A full impact assessment for the 2010 business rates transitional arrangement scheme was published by the Department in November 2009. Information on individual business rate bills is not held centrally.

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the number of shops that have shut down following the increase in business rates in April 2012. [123325]

Brandon Lewis:
No such figure has been estimated. Business rates are tied to RPI inflation; this means there has been no real-terms increase in bills.

I would observe that the coalition Government have taken a series of steps to help with business rates. We have:

Doubled small business rate relief scheme, to help half a million small firms. For two and a half years from October 2010, small firms are receiving 100% rate relief (i.e. pay no business rates at all) on properties up to £6,000 rateable value, and a tapered rate relief from £6,000 to £12,000. An estimated 330,000 small firms are paying no rates at all as a result.

22 Oct 2012 : Column 631W

Introduced a deferral scheme to allow businesses to deter payment of 60% of the RPI increase in their 2012-13 rates bills, over three years: providing practical support and helping cash flow at a time of (then) higher inflation.

Scrapped Labour's ports tax—stopping retrospective business rates on firms in ports that threatened the whole export and manufacturing sector. £175 million of unfair rate demands have been cleared.

Made it easier for small firms to get small business rate relief to which they are entitled. Our changes in the Localism Act allow all eligible ratepayers automatically to receive the small business multiplier, and we have removed the legal red tape requiring ratepayers to fill in paperwork to claim the relief.

Given local councils new powers via the Localism Act to levy local business rate discounts, for example, to support local shops, community pubs, new business parks or vital local facilities.

Introduced 24 new Enterprise Zones across the country, which offer a 100% business rate discount worth up to approximately £275,000 over a five year period.

The Local Government Finance Bill will introduce the local retention of business rates, giving councils new incentives to support local firms and local shops. The Government's response to the Mary Portas review also outlines a series of initiatives being undertaken to support local high streets.

Planning Permission

Tom Blenkinsop:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications he has called in since May 2010. [124239]

Nick Boles:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) on 18 October 2012, Official Report, column 375W.

Property Development

Meg Munn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many square metres of approved planning applications remain to be developed for (a) office, (b) industrial and (c) retail use. [124261]

Nick Boles:
The area of land with planning permission remaining to be developed for office, industrial or retail use is not available centrally.

Regional Growth Fund

Mr Umunna:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in his Department work on delivering the Regional Growth Fund. [124235]

Mr Prisk:
There are 17 full-time equivalent staff in the Department for Communities and Local Government allocated to monitoring Regional Growth Fund projects on the ground. They are supported by DCLG finance and growth policy teams.

DCLG works closely and effectively with the fund secretariat in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who administer Regional Growth Fund and include accountants, economists, policy and communications specialists and administrative staff.

22 Oct 2012 : Column 632W

Attorney-General

Advanced Language Solutions

Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Attorney-General what the results were of the checks carried out by Advanced Language Solutions (ALS) at his request to ensure that all of the interpreters used by ALS have been security vetted. [123862]

The Solicitor-General:
Advanced Language Solutions (ALS) has completed its review and has provided assurances to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that a full audit trail is now held in respect of all 1,100 interpreters on its list and that all vetting information has been fully verified. The vetting status of 208 interpreters used on CPS work between February and August 2012 has been verified by ALS as part of the review. The vetting status of a further 28 interpreters who were used on CPS work between February and August 2012 was unable to be verified as part of the review, and these interpreters were subsequently removed from the ALS supplier list.

Crime: Disability

Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions about the record of the Crown Prosecution Service on prosecuting disability hate crimes.[123857]

The Attorney-General:
I have not had any recent discussions with the Director of Public Prosecutions on this matter. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) treats disability hate crime very seriously and will prosecute whenever possible. The volume of disability hate crime (DHC) cases referred to the CPS by the police for a charging decision fell in 2011-12 to 643 from 690 in 2010-11, but this is against a background of a continuing fall in crime overall. The number of convictions rose from 141 of concluded cases in 2007-08 to 480 in 2011-12. However, the conviction rate has remained at around 77% of concluded cases.

Crimes of Violence

Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Director of Public Prosecutions and (b) Secretary of State for the Home Department on prosecutions of violence against women and girls. [123856]

The Solicitor-General:
In May 2012, the Attorney-General discussed violence against women and girls (VAWG) prosecutions with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), noting the improvement in CPS VAWG prosecutions, the continuation of specialist prosecutors, and the commitment to continue with this progress.

I also attend the Inter-Ministerial Group on VAWG, which is chaired by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May). This group monitors and discusses progress against the VAWG action plan, which includes actions on the prosecutions of VAWG.

22 Oct 2012 : Column 633W

Cybercrime

Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the prosecution of crimes committed online. [123858]

The Attorney-General:
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised me at a recent routine business meeting of the work he is doing in respect of prosecuting offences committed in the context of online social media. The DPP has held a number of roundtable meetings with interested parties to discuss prosecution policy in this area. The discussions will be used to inform the preparation of interim guidelines for prosecutors on social media cases. The guidelines will be used to assist prosecutors when deciding whether criminal charges should be brought. There will be a public consultation before the final guidelines are published. Certain offences, for example the publication of the name of a victim of a sexual offence, require my consent to prosecution; this therefore allows me to consider how such crimes are being prosecuted.

Offences against Children

Amber Rudd:
To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions there have been for under-age sex in the last five years. [124278]

The Attorney-General:
Records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identify the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced and reached a first hearing in magistrates courts, rather than the number of defendants prosecuted. Offences relating to "under-age" sex are taken to include Section 9 Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sexual activity with a child under 16 years of age), Section 16 Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sexual activity with a child under 18 years of age where there has been an abuse of trust) and Section 25 Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sexual activity with a child under 18 years of age when the perpetrator is a family member) but are exclusive of non-consensual sexual offences including rape.

During the last five years the number of these offences was as follows:

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

S9 SOA 2003

2,344

2,709

2,942

3,388

3,076

S16 SOA 2003

86

70

73

95

77

S25 SOA 2003

564

615

688

830

624

Police Custody

Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Attorney-General what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service in cases involving deaths in police custody or after contact with the police. [123855]

The Solicitor-General:
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has specific arrangements in place for dealing with cases involving deaths in police custody or after contact with the police. To ensure consistency and to

22 Oct 2012 : Column 634W

build expertise to deal with this challenging caseload, the CPS centralised the handling of such matters to the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division (SCCTD). Only very experienced senior lawyers are specifically designated to review death in custody cases in SCCTD. The reviews carried out by the senior lawyer are examined by the line manager (the "Unit Head") and then by the Head of Division (or Deputy). All such cases are then referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the end of the review for consideration. In any case where the decision is not to proceed, and if the DPP is not satisfied that it is "plain beyond doubt" that there is no case to answer, then experienced external counsel will be instructed to advise. This is in accordance with the recommendations from the Attorney-General's "Review of the Role and Practices of the Crown Prosecution Service in Cases Arising from a Death in Custody" 2003.

Wales

Public Expenditure

Mr Bone:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his latest estimate is of the level of public expenditure per head of population in Wales. [123678]

Mr David Jones:
Total identifiable public expenditure per head of the population in Wales was £10,017 in 2010-11 (the latest year available). Total identifiable public expenditure per head in Wales was 13% above the average for the United Kingdom as a whole.

Northern Ireland

Homicide

Ms Ritchie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Justice, (b) Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and (c) Police Ombudsman regarding the murder of six men at O'Toole's Bar (The Heights), Loughinisland, County Down on 18 June 1994; and if she will make a statement. [124113]

Mrs Villiers:
I have not had any discussions with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), Chief Constable of the PSNI or Police Ombudsman on the murder of six men at O'Toole's Bar (The Heights), Loughinisland, County Down on 18 June 1994.

Church Commissioners

Land

Jeremy Lefroy:
To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how many acres of land are encumbered by chancel repair liability by the merging of tithes with the land either by deed or under section 1 of the Tithe Act 1839. [124509]

22 Oct 2012 : Column 635W

Sir Tony Baldry:
The Church Commissioners do not hold detailed information on the total amount of land that is subject to chancel repair liability. However, the Law Commission’s 1985 report “Property Law: Liability for Chancel Repairs” estimated that around 3.75 million acres in total carried chancel repair liability. It is thought that some 1.5 million acres of this land is land in which tithe rent charges have been merged.

Prime Minister

Conservative Party: Conferences

John Mann:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the names of each individual and organisation he met in an official capacity at the 2012 Conservative Party conference. [123407]

The Prime Minister:
Details of my meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis. Details can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website.

Members: Correspondence

Tim Loughton:
To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham of 9 July 2012 regarding the visit of the Dalai Lama. [124328]

The Prime Minister:
As far as I am aware, my Office has not received the letter.

Members: Pensions

Mr Spellar:
To ask the Prime Minister whether he has had recent meetings or communications with officials in the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority regarding the remuneration and pensions of hon. Members. [123389]

The Prime Minister:
Details of my meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis. Details can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website.

USA

Mr Spellar:
To ask the Prime Minister who accompanied him on his trip to the US on 13 March 2012. [123384]

The Prime Minister:
Details of ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly.

22 Oct 2012 : Column 636W

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee

Treasury

Sir Bob Russell:
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, on how many occasions since 1 January 2012 representations have been made by (a) Ministers and (b) officials in HM Treasury to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; what the subject of each such representation was; and if he will make a statement. [112803]

Mr Charles Walker:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Paula Higson, dated 14 September 2012:

As Acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about representations by Ministers and by officials at HM Treasury to IPSA.

IPSA Board members and officials regularly meet, correspond and have discussions with a range of interested parties, including ministers and government officials. I do not intend to provide details of individual meetings or discussions as that would be likely to restrict the future flow of information and advice.

Home Department

Antisocial Behaviour

Steve Rotheram:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms she plans to put in place to judge the success or failure of community triggers in tackling antisocial behaviour. [122830]

Mr Jeremy Browne:
We are working with a number of leading local areas, including Manchester, Brighton and Hove, Richmond, and West Lindsey and Boston, to test the community trigger on the ground before we introduce legislation.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) made in Merseyside in each of the last 10 years. [123126]

Mr Jeremy Browne:
The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) applied for, and the number issued, at all courts in the Merseyside Criminal Justice System (CJS) area in each year between 2001 and 2010 (the latest year for which data are currently available) can be viewed in the table. Data for 2011 are due to be published on 18 October 2012.

Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts in the Merseyside Criminal Justice System (CJS) area as reported to the Ministry of Justice(1) by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2010

ASBOs

Merseyside Criminal Justice System area

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Applied for(2)

7

22

41

41

66

44

52

90

90

97

Of which:

Made(3)

7

22

40

41

64

44

52

90

88

97

Refused

0

0

1

0

2

0

0

0

2

0

22 Oct 2012 : Column 637W

22 Oct 2012 : Column 638W

Issued on conviction(4)

n/a

0

4

55

64

50

35

27

26

46

Total ASBOs issued

7

22

44

96

128

94

87

117

114

143

n/a = Not applicable—see footnote 4.
(1) Prior to the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007, numbers of ASBOs issued were reported to Home Office by the Court Service.
(2) ASBOs can be issued by courts following an application by a relevant body, these include the police, local authorities and registered social landlords.
(3) Includes ASBOs issued on application by magistrates courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts, which were introduced under section 1 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and became available on 1 April 1999.
(4) ASBOs made following conviction for a relevant criminal offence at the Crown court and at magistrates courts (acting in their criminal capacity), which were introduced under the Police Reform Act 2002 and became available on 2 December 2002.
Note:
Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Antisocial Behaviour: Liverpool

Steve Rotheram:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to introduce community triggers to tackle antisocial behaviour in Liverpool. [122828]

Mr Jeremy Browne:
Our proposed antisocial behaviour reforms, including the community trigger, will apply across England and we are also working with the Welsh Government to implement them in Wales.

Antisocial Behaviour: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people reporting antisocial behaviour to police in Merseyside have done so on more than one occasion. [122825]

Mr Jeremy Browne:
The Home Office does not collect this information in the format requested.

Steve Rotheram:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has put in place to ensure that the police identify victims of antisocial behaviour; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of services for such victims provided by Merseyside police. [122826]

Mr Jeremy Browne:
The Government’s recent White Paper, “Putting victims first”, made clear that the police and their partners should focus their response to antisocial behaviour on the needs of victims, and highlighted Home Office work with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and eight police forces to test new ways of identifying and supporting those at risk of harm.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) recently reported that police forces in England and Wales—including Merseyside—had improved their overall response to victims of antisocial behaviour since 2010.

Asylum

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently seeking asylum in the UK, by nationality. [123462]

Mr Harper:
The number of asylum applications received is published on an annual and quarterly basis. Latest figures are available in Tables “as.01” and “as.01.q” of the release Immigration Statistics, April to June 2012 Second edition, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at:

Asylum: Deportation

Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been deported to (a) Iran and (b) Iraq in each of the last 24 months. [123865]

Mr Harper:
For the purposes of answering this question it has been assumed that the question refers to the number of enforced removals and voluntary departures from the UK.

Most illegal immigrants are removed under administrative or illegal entry powers from the UK rather than being deported. Deportations are a specific subset of removals which are enforced either following a criminal conviction or when it is judged that a person's removal from the UK is conducive to the public good.

The following table shows the total number of asylum cases removed or voluntarily departed to Iran and Iraq from the UK in each of the last 18 months and is a subset of Home Office published statistics.

It is not possible within these figures to say at what stage in the asylum process individuals have reached at the time of their removal, including whether their claim has failed at that point, as those departing voluntarily can do so at any stage without necessarily notifying the UK Border Agency.

Monthly removals and voluntary departures of asylum cases(1) to Iran and Iraq(2), January 2011 to June 2012(3)

Number

Asylum enforced removals to Iran

Asylum voluntary departures to Iran

Asylum enforced removals to Iraq

Asylum voluntary departures to Iraq

2011

January

2

10

3

16

February

8

10

8

42

March

7

7

17

43

22 Oct 2012 : Column 639W

April

7

5

10

2

May

3

5

1

7

June

5

5

12

28

July

4

6

2

14

August

0

8

2

28

September

8

9

5

28

October

0

14

2

29

November

5

5

3

19

December

4

2

1

17

2012

January

2

2

0

26

February

1

1

0

38

March

3

4

2

34

April

1

8

1

35

May

1

7

3

33

June

1

7

3

23

(1) Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system as at the dates on which the data extracts were taken.
(2) Destination as recorded on source database.
(3) Provisional figures. Figures will under record due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on removals and voluntary departures by destination are available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: April to June 2012, tables rv.06 and rv.06.q, from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at: